Frank Pallone: “I am just amazed when I listen to the Republican side, because they are just so bent on the ideology of this, and I…”

“I am just amazed when I listen to the Republican side, because they are just so bent on the ideology of this, and I think that the motion of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm) and what the Democrats are saying is look at this situation practically. If you listen to what the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm) has said in the motion to instruct, it essentially says, look, we know those of us who are in rural areas, I am not, but we know these HMOs and these private plans are not working, for the most part, and if someone tries to get their prescription drugs through an HMO or managed care private plan, in many cases it is not going to be available, and they are not going to have access to it. It is the Republicans that basically are trying to impose an ideology and saying we must privatize, we must go this route, this is no alternative. All the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm) is saying is in a situation where the HMOs or the private plans are not available, we still have to guarantee drug coverage for those seniors in those rural areas that cannot get it through these private HMOs or other private plans. So let us have the Senate fallback that says you can get your prescription drugs through traditional Medicare.”